Rev. T. Coan on the late Eruption of Mauna Eoa. 65 
miles down the mountain the stream is half a mile wide, but at 
the base of the mountain it spreads to the breadth of three or four 
miles. In some places it formed a multitude of channels, and en- 
closed numerous islands of ancient lava and scathed and charred 
forest trees. The whole length of the stream, including its wind- 
ings, may be forty or fifty miles, and it approached within about 
ten miles of Hilo. 
T engaged men to cut through the forest from Hilo, find the 
terminus of the stream, trace it through the woods, meet me on 
the mountain, and lead me down the channel to Hilo. But the 
men did not commence in season, so that we had left the moun- 
tain by another route before they came up. This was a disappoint- 
ment, as | had intended to measure and know definitely how 
hear the eruption approached us, and whether its direction would, 
probably, have brought it to our station. These facts I have yet 
to determine. 
Had the flow been direct, and had it been confined toa channel 
of half a mile in breadth, it would have reached the shore in less 
than two days. But its consistency was so great, its windings so 
humerous, and the obstacles in its track so many, that, although 
€ great fountain played furiously for twenty days, still the 
stream spent itself in the inland regions. And there it now lies 
like a petrified serpent, stiffened in death in the forests behind us. 
ut to return to our point of view onthe cone. What acontrast ! 
This Whole frowning pile on which we stood was but recently a 
glaring pyramid of fire, and from this dark throat, down which we 
how calmly gazed, ascended a fiery column a thousand feet in di- 
ameter and seven hundred feet high, with mutterings and roarings 
at might make the stoutest heart “fear and quake.” ‘This 
and feeling its hot flashes on my very cheek ; and the place 
Where I then kept vigils through the live-long night, and saw, 
aud heard, and felt things unutterable. Now, all was calm as 
death—all still as the grave—all wild and desolate as chaos. _ 
I found sulphur and gypsum in small quantities, but I noticed 
Its, 
abundant till we reached the cone where it covers the whole 
TeZion to the depth of five or ten feet. 
ND Serizs, Vol, XV, No, 43,—Jan., 1853. 9 
